Hot Science — Cool Talks: The Biology of Love
Feb
20
2026
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Steven Phelps
Feb
20
2026
-
Steven Phelps
Description
What does science say about love and long-term relationships? Steven Phelps explores the biology of love through the surprising world of prairie voles, one of the few monogamous mammals. By studying how vole brains form lasting bonds, Dr. Phelps reveals what biology, brain chemistry and evolution can teach us about human connection, trust and commitment. This engaging talk offers a fresh, science-based look at why we pair up!
Schedule
- 5:30 p.m.: Cool Activities: Attendees explore the evening’s topic through hands-on activities and demonstrations the whole family can enjoy.
- 7 p.m.: Science talk, followed by moderated Q&A. (Talks are typically 40-50 minutes.)
Hot Science – Cool Talks is presented by the Environmental Science Institute (ESI) to support leading researchers in sharing their passion about science, technology, engineering and math with the general public.
About the Speakers
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Steven Phelps
Professor
Department of Integrative Biology, UT Austin
Steven Phelps is the recipient of numerous awards, including a Guggenheim Fellowship and a Radcliffe Fellowship. He received his Ph.D. from The University of Texas in 1999, with pre-doctoral fellowships ...
Steven Phelps is the recipient of numerous awards, including a Guggenheim Fellowship and a Radcliffe Fellowship. He received his Ph.D. from The University of Texas in 1999, with pre-doctoral fellowships from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) and the National Institutes of Health. As a postdoctoral scholar, he was a fellow at STRI and at the NSF Center for Behavioral Neuroscience in Atlanta. He was a faculty member at the University of Florida from 2002-2010, and joined UT Austin in 2010. He is currently a professor of integrative biology; the director and co-founder of the Center for Brain, Behavior and Evolution; and involved with UT graduate programs in Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Cell and Molecular Biology, Neuroscience and Psychology. His lab has been funded by the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health and National Geographic to support research related to social cognition, perceptual scaling and brain size, signal detection and information theory, neural network models, the evolution of gene regulation, epigenetics and transcription, sexual selection, human evolution and population genetics. He also likes softball, good writing and old country music.
Location
Welch Hall Auditorium
105 E. 24th St
Room 2.224
Parking: Speedway Garage